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Scoring the GED Tests

How are GED scores reported?

GED Testing Service does not endorse conversion of the GED test scores to grade point averages (GPA); however, the brochure "College Admissions and Candidates with GED High School Credential" (PDF; 115KB) provides information on estimating national class rank from GED test scores.

GED Tests scores provide an estimate of a test-taker's academic knowledge and skills in each content area as compared to that of recent high school graduates. As with any test, the scores are not intended to be a complete measure of all a test-taker can do.

For the 2002 Series GED Tests, performance on each of the five tests is reported in two ways: as "a standard score," ranging from 200 to 800, and "a percentile rank," ranging from 1 to 99.

A standard score is used to compare a test-taker's performance on a test to the performance of graduating high school seniors who took the test. The average standard score for a sample of U.S. graduating high school seniors is 500 for each test in the battery. About half of these seniors earned standard scores above 500 and about half earned standard scores below 500 on each test. Approximately 68 percent of all graduating high school seniors earn scores between 400 and 600 on the GED standard score scale. Only 2 percent of graduating high school seniors earn scores lower than 300 or higher than 700.

The percentile rank indicates the percentage of graduating high school seniors who earned scores at or below a test-taker's test score. For example, if a test-taker earned a score of 510 on the Science Test with a percentile rank of 54, those numbers indicate that 54 percent of graduating high school seniors earned a score of 510 or lower.

Each item is worth one point if answered correctly and zero points if answered incorrectly; however, the number of items answered correctly is not reported.

The Language Arts, Writing Test standard score is a weighted combination of scores from Part I (multiple-choice items) and the essay in Part II.

What scores are needed to pass the GED test battery?

To pass the five-test battery, the GED test-taker must demonstrate a level of knowledge and skill that meets or surpasses that of approximately 60 percent of graduating high school seniors.

For the 2002 Series GED Tests, the minimum passing standard set by the GED Testing Service_® is an average standard score of 450 or greater across the five content area tests (a total standard score of 2250 or greater) and, in addition, a standard score of 410 or greater on each content area test. Most jurisdictions (state, province, or territory) use this passing standard requirement; however, they may set their passing standard requirement higher than, but not lower than, a total standard score of 2250 or greater and a standard score of 410 or greater on each test. Although the requirements may vary slightly from one jurisdiction to the next, passing standard requirements are typically reported as a minimum total or average standard score across all five tests and a minimum standard score for each test.

This passing standard requirement allows test-takers to "compensate" for performance in one content area by stronger performance in another; i.e., a lower score on one test can be compensated by a higher score on another test and result in passing the GED test battery. Many skills make important contributions to achievement, and it is possible for most test-takers to compensate for weaknesses in one area using strengths in other areas.

Local Official GED Testing Centers can tell test-takers what requirements must be met in order to earn a GED credential. Locate the nearest Official GED Testing Center by zip code.

Retesting

If someone takes the GED Tests and doesn't meet the minimum passing standard needed to earn a GED credential in their jurisdiction, the test-taker should contact the local adult education resource center or look into preparation classes or materials to help brush up on the skills.

College admissions and the GED credential

If a test-taker is taking the GED Tests for college or university admission, they should check first with the institution to find out the minimum scores required as well as other criteria that might be needed for admission.

In addition, the 2002 brochure "College Admissions and Candidates with GED High School Credential" (PDF; 115KB) provides information on understanding GED test scores and estimating national class rank from GED test scores. This information is useful for both the test-taker and the college or university admissions office.

Requesting Official Transcripts of GED Tests Results

If a test-taker has already taken the GED Tests and wants to find out how to get a transcript of their scores, please visit our transcript request page on this web site.

Interpreting GED test scores earned prior to 2002

Many adults took and passed the GED Tests prior to 2002. Prior to 2002, standard scores ranged from 20 to 80. Like the 2002 Series GED Tests, percentile ranks, ranging from 1 to 99, were also reported. The average standard score for a sample of U.S. graduating high school seniors was 50 for each test in the battery. About half of these seniors earned standard scores above 50 and about half earned standard scores below 50 on each test. Approximately 68 percent of all graduating high school seniors earned scores between 40 and 60 on the GED standard score scale prior to 2002. Only 2 percent of graduating high school seniors earned scores lower than 30 or higher than 70 prior to 2002.

GED credential recipients who earned their credential prior to 2002 and college or university admissions officers should review the brochure from the 1988 Series GED Tests titled "College Admissions and the GED Graduate" (PDF; 50KB).

Comparing scores across the 3-digit scale of the 2002 series and the 2-digit scale of the prior series is not as simple as adding a zero to the end of the 2-digit score. This is because each new test series reflects more recent content standards, and sometimes the format of the test changed (e.g., the addition of the essay to the Language Arts, Writing Test in 2002). Also, percentile ranks and estimated national class ranks may change across test series.

Please direct questions about this page to:
ged@ace.nche.edu
This page last updated on 06/09/2009